https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/63998821
Fifa is to reconsider the format of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada, says president Gianni Infantino.
The teams will increase from 32 to 48 for the competition and were set to be divided into 16 groups of three, with the top two progressing to the last 32.
Infantino said that would be looked at after the "success" of the four-team groups at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
"Here the groups of four have been absolutely incredible," said Infantino.
"Until the last minute of the last match you would not know who goes through.
"We have to revisit or at least re-discuss the format. This is something that will certainly be on the agenda in the next meeting."
it's a no brainer, the 3 team group format is asinine
it means teams will know what's needed going into the second game(s) as there will already be one game by one team(s) played in the round robin format.
whoever thought that idea up wants shooting...
Fifa to reconsider format of 2026
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- Cuenca 'ammer
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Re: Fifa to reconsider format of 2026
Run it as a big knockout. If you are knocked out in the first round of the cup you go into the plate. If you are knocked out in the first roundd of the plate you go in to the saucer. Every nation gets at least 3 games. Every game leads to a meaningful result.
- StevePottsGoalsReel
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Re: Fifa to reconsider format of 2026
Honestly think the current format is perfect.
Groups of four teams is the right balance of jeopardy (no best third-placed teams sneaking through without deserving it) versus (as per Argentina) one loss not being fatal, and then 32 neatly becomes 16 for a substantial knock-out stage. Also, as you say, simultaneous last group games is the only way to prevent teams colluding.
If they do have to expand - which they shouldn't, but it's FIFA so they will - I think it would probably be better to add a mini-tournament as a pre-qualifer like the recent T20 World Cups. All the play-off games could then form the opening week of the World Cup, and be mixed up geographically, so we get to see Scotland v. Peru or New Zealand v. Egypt battling it out to make it through to the tournament proper.
Not ideal, but better than meddling with the existing format.
Groups of four teams is the right balance of jeopardy (no best third-placed teams sneaking through without deserving it) versus (as per Argentina) one loss not being fatal, and then 32 neatly becomes 16 for a substantial knock-out stage. Also, as you say, simultaneous last group games is the only way to prevent teams colluding.
If they do have to expand - which they shouldn't, but it's FIFA so they will - I think it would probably be better to add a mini-tournament as a pre-qualifer like the recent T20 World Cups. All the play-off games could then form the opening week of the World Cup, and be mixed up geographically, so we get to see Scotland v. Peru or New Zealand v. Egypt battling it out to make it through to the tournament proper.
Not ideal, but better than meddling with the existing format.
- last.caress
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Re: Fifa to reconsider format of 2026
Might as well expand it to 195 countries. Round it out to 200 with some observer states and dependencies. Sod it.
- Cuenca 'ammer
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Re: Fifa to reconsider format of 2026
many a true word mate.....and if they think they can work something along those lines, they most certainly will.last.caress wrote: ↑Sat Dec 17, 2022 2:24 pm Might as well expand it to 195 countries. Round it out to 200 with some observer states and dependencies. Sod it.
look at the World Club Cup.. that's not even worth playing in the first place, now it's going to what 32 clubs ?
these blokes will do anything to generate a few bob (for themselves, allegedly) they couldn't care less what happens to the product. hell they even mooted to play the WC every two years a short time back, didn't they ? wasn't that Wenger's brainchild or am I misremembering...??
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Re: Fifa to reconsider format of 2026
The current format is fine. 32 is the perfect number. 8 groups of 4, 2 teams from each group makes 16, which nicely divides into 8, then 4, then 2 for the final.
Groups of 3 will be ****.
Groups of 3 will be ****.
- Shabu
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Re: Fifa to reconsider format of 2026
There's 211 countries affiliated with FIFA. Obviously we can't have all of them at the World Cup so they should have a Crap World Cup involving 84 non footballing countries like Sri Lanka, San Marino, Virgin Islands, Guam, Gibraltar, Scotland, Aruba etc etc. Stage that in the Middle East six months before the actual World Cup. Winner gets to join the other 127 teams.last.caress wrote: ↑Sat Dec 17, 2022 2:24 pm Might as well expand it to 195 countries. Round it out to 200 with some observer states and dependencies. Sod it.
Then those 128 teams can play in a knockout format spread out over a month in the summer. You lose, you go home. You win, you progress
- The_Dead_Ball
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Re: Fifa to reconsider format of 2026
last.caress wrote: ↑Sat Dec 17, 2022 2:24 pm Might as well expand it to 195 countries. Round it out to 200 with some observer states and dependencies. Sod it.
TBH the World Cup starts two years before the finals. Every country starts their WC in regional groups to find out who makes the final 32/48
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